Island Lecture Series: Authentic Prince Edward Island Tourism Experiences—What Locals Have to Say

Dr. Susan Graham, associate professor of marketing at UPEI, will give a lecture titled “Authentic Prince Edward Island Tourism Experiences: What Locals Have to Say” on November 21 at 7 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building, UPEI. Graham’s lecture is part of the 2023 Island Lecture Series, presented by the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI. The lecture focuses on whether tourism experiences can ever really be authentic and truly reflect the character, history, and people of a place. One underrepresented voice in authentic tourism is that of locals. Using a research panel of 600 Islanders, Graham asked locals if it was possible for visitors to experience the ‘real’ PEI, and if so, what kinds of experiences best reflected the place that locals call home. Over 400 respondents enthusiastically proclaimed that indeed it was possible for visitors to glimpse the ‘real’ Prince Edward Island, and they identified myriad ways that could happen in areas such as culinary-, cultural-, historical-, and Anne of Green Gables-based experiences. Graham was born and raised in Summerside, PEI. At UPEI, she teaches introduction to marketing, integrated cases in marketing, brand management, and the future of marketing. Her research program spans two distinct themes: marketing islands as tourism destinations and 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in business/management education. She lives in Charlottetown with her husband and son.